Let us talk about something joy-sparking instead.
For quite some time, my favourite accessory was a simple and cheap padded cloth Ipad sleeve. It managed to spark joy simply by being good at its task (and looking nice to my eyes, of course).
Being good at its task does not guarantee joy-sparking, either. Nor does being good at its task and being frequently used. My Airpods pro are a great example; I use them a ton, they look good and perform great. Apart from the usual hand-wavy "more" when it comes to noise cancellation and battery life, there is nothing I would want to change about them.
And yet, they do not spark joy.
My Macbook air probably qualifies, as a combination of hardware, software, and the utility it provides me. A great tool, which makes me happy.
The M1 Mac mini definitely qualifies, although I can not put my finger on exactly why and how. It is just a small metal box of computing power, less than the Air, and I currently use it less than the Air too. And yet: it most definitely sparks joy.
A new addition
Here is my latest tech-related item to spark some joy:
It is the seductively named Anker 3-in-1 cube with magsafe, plain and simple. It feels just as solid as it looks. More solid even, I was surprised at the satisfying heft when I first picked it up.
The heft is just what it needs to be though, because it needs to be stable to do its job.
The job is, of course, charging. It charges not only an Iphone, but also a Apple watch, and a case for Airpods.
How? Like this:
Yes, the phone is held there by magnetic force alone, and it feels very secure.
There is not that much more to say. It sits there, does its job, and feels like a little magic trick each time I … open and close? … fold and unfold? … it.
Sparks joy, and makes my bedside table look that much neater.